US 6,030,384 A
Bipolar surgical instruments having focused electrical fieldsGeneral
US 6,030,384 A
Bipolar surgical instruments having focused electrical fields
Tech Center:
3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Medical Devices/Processes
Examiner:
Linda C. M. Dvorak
Art Unit:
3739 Sheet Container Making, Package Making, Receptacles, Shoes, Apparel, and Tool Driving or Impacting
Inventors:
CAMRAN NEZHAT
Assignee:
Priority:
05/01/98
Filed:
05/01/98
Granted:
02/29/00
Expiration:
05/01/18
Abstract
A bipolar surgical device includes a pair of actuable jaws. A first electrode member which usually includes a line of electrically coupled tissue penetrating elements is formed on one of the jaws, and a second electrode member which usually includes a line of electrically coupled tissue penetrating elements is formed on the same or the other jaw. The electrode members are laterally spaced-apart and arranged in a parallel, usually linear manner so that the lateral distance therebetween remains generally constant. In operation, tissue may be grasped between the jaws so that the electrode members contact and/or the tissue penetrating elements enter into the tissue. By energizing the electrode members at opposite polarities using a high frequency energy source, tissue between the jaws will be heated, coagulated, and/or necrosed, while heating of tissue outside of the lines will be minimized.